Interlocking mechanism for gas-generators.



No. 790,465. 4 PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

v F. 'THUMAN. INTERLOGKING MECHANISM FOR GAS, GENERATORS.

APPLICATION I'ILED JUNE 11.1904.

. 5 sums-81mm -1.

WITNESSES: [NYE/(T01? I 'Br ITTORIIEY PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

7 F. THU-MAN. INTBRLOGKING, MECHANISM FOR GAS GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11.1904.

5 SHBETS BHEET 2.

,4 TTORIIEY.

WITNESSES: $44M 7 .110. 790,465@ PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

' F.THU.MAN. Y

INTERLOCKING MECHANISM FOR GAS GENERATORS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE '11. 1904.-

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WI TIIESSES "IVE/(TOR I 4 Y ATTORNEY.

PATENTED MAY 23, 1905 F: THUMAN. INTERLOGKING MECHANISM-FOR GAS GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11.1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

mrnzssss; I I v I mm/r nn I A TTURNEY.

PATBNTED MAY 23, 1905.

P. THU'MAN. INTERLOGKING MECHANISM FOR GAS GENERATORS.

APPLICATION IIILED JUNE 11,1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET -5.

IMEIITOR I A WITNESSES 4W 8,

l TTURIIE).

UNITED, STATES Patented May 23, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

INTERLOCKING MECHANISM FOR GAS-GENERATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,465, dated May 23, 1905.

Application filed June 11, 1904. Serial No. 212,080.

To all whom, it may concern- Be itknown that I, FREDERIC THUMAN', a citizen of the United States of America, residing in London, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Interlocking Mechanism for Gas-Generators, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

This invention relates to the manufacture. of water-gas by the usual process of alternately steaming and blasting fuel.

In water-gas apparatus known as twingenerator apparatus two gas-generators are, for reasons of economy, used in such a way that during the blow, or the process of blasting the fuel-beds to a proper temperature for the production of water-gas, air is forced through both generators in parallel; but during the run, or process of steaming the heated fuel-beds for the production of water-gas, the steamer any desired portion thereof is passed through the two generators in series.

In order to maintain safe and eificient distribution of heat in the fuel-beds, it is essential that the make of water-gas be alternated or reversed in its direction of passage through the fires. Owing to the frequent intermittence of the water-gas runs and the hasty intervening manipulation of the valves for the blow, the operator is very liable to make two or more runs successively in the same direction through the generators, thus disturbing the heat distribution, with loss of efficiency and risk of overheating and damaging the apparatus. Furthermore, as explained in the specification of former British Letters Patent,

No. 23,904, dated October 27, 1896, and No. 24,934, dated October 27 1897, there is grave danger in the alternate production of watergas and blast-gas of the formation andignition of explosive mixtures of water-gas and air in parts of the apparatus, and means were therein described for obviating this danger. In theoperation of twin-generator apparatus there are additional sources of such danger.

The object of this invention is to obviate these dangers, for which purpose the apparatus is provided with controlling and safety devices that prevent the operator manipulating the cocks and valves except in safe and proper relation, as will now be explained.

First. To insure each fire getting an equal portion of the air-supply, and consequently to avoid excessive and perhaps dangerous overheating in one of the generators during the blow, as well as to prevent the formation, of an explosive mixture of fuel-gas and air, the valves controlling the blast-gas outlets from both generators are so interlocked with the air-supply valve or valves that it is impossible to open the latter until both the former are completely open, and, conversely, that the gas-outlet valves cannot be closed until after the air-supply valve or valves has or have been completely closed.

Second. To avoid the formation of explosive mixture in the air and gas passages at the bottom of the generators or in the ash-chambers, the residual air must be expelled from them at the end of each blow and the residual water-gas at the end of each run. This is accomplished by so interlocking the steamadmission valve with the gas-outlet valves of the generators and so connecting the valve which controls the direction of flow ofsteam through each generator with the corresponding gas-outlet valve that residual air and gas are expelled by steam at the end of each blow and run, respectively.

Third. The movements of the valves controlling the direction of make of the watergas are governed by a device common to the valves of both generators and automatically actuated by their movements in such a manner'that the said valves in the ordinary course may be operated only in safe and proper sequence. An indicator is also actuated by the movement of the valves.so as to always show the gas-maker the direction of the make of water-gas and inform him of the proper succeeding movements. This enables the gasmaker to take the proper steps at all times without hesitation or record, while the interlocking gear of course efilectually prevents improper action.

' Fourth. When such water-gas generators form part of carbureted-water-gas apparatus,

it is advisable to provide against the possibility of admitting oil to the carbureter during the blow to obviate both the waste of oil and the possibility of oil-vapors traveling back through the fuel-beds and forming an explosive mixture with air in the bottom of the generators and in the air-blast system. This is accomplished by so interlocking the oil-admission cock with the air-admission valve or valves that the former cannot be open at the same time as the latter, and vice versa.

The precise character of the interlocking mechanism employed may be greatly varied, and obviously the interlocking mechanism may be actuated either with parts of the apparatus which convey motion to the valves in question or with parts of the apparatus actuated by the motion of said valves.

Some of the herein-described improvements may be employed without others, and the invention is not necessarily limited to apparatus in which two fires are used, for obviously either orboth of the so-ealled twin generators above referred to may be replaced by a pair of generators, and so on, and the invention is also equally applicable to apparatus for the manufacture of carbureted and uncarbureted water-gas.

For clearness in description it has been assumed in the above that the same outlet from each generator serves forboth blast products and water-gas; but of course separate outlets may be provided for each of these gases.

Reference is now had to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my twin-generator plant and interlocking system; Fig. 2, a side elevation with the near generator removed; Fig. 3, a rear elevation with the chamber D and the portions of the take-off pipes in the rear of valve-chambers C and (1* removed. Fig. 4 is a plan of the interlocking mechanism, showing the position of segment f, corresponding to the closing of the valve connected to it. Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4:, but showing both segments F and f in open position. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the interlocking device, showing also the connected indicating-finger; and Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views showing a detail of the interlocking device. 1

A and A are the twin generators.

B is an air-blast pipe connecting with the conduits B and B, which connect the generators together at bottom. The pipe or air conduit B is provided with an air-valve contained in casing B and actuated by valvestem B, to the top of which is attached the interlocking bar B the upper end of which is a rack B, guided in standard B and actuated by hand-wheel B through gear-wheel B The interlocking bar B is formed, as shown in Fig. 6, with notches B B and a third notch B C and C are take-off conduits leading from the tops of generators A and A to the carbureting vessel D.

O and C are valve-chambers in which are the take-otl' valves C and C".

C and C are the valve-stems guided at top in the frames C and (1 and actuated through links E a" by the levers E e, pivoted at E and c and having handles E a. From each of the levers E and c extend rods E w", the lower ends of which are attached to steam-valve levers, as will be described, while each rod is connected by bell-crank levers E" and rods E a with the interlocking segments F and f, pivoted on a frame G- at F and f. These segments are formed with abutments F f and with interlocking notches F f and h f, the notched air-valve bar B passing through notches F f when the segments occupy the positions shown in Fig. 5, which represents the position of the segments when the takeoff valves are both open. The notches B B of bar B register with segment-notches Ff when the air-valve is closed, and in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 5 either of the take-ofi valves can be closed or the air-valve can be opened; but the closing of either takeofi valve locks the air-valve closed, while the opening of the air-valve locks both take-oil: valves open.

H is a steam-pipe having a valve II, by which it can be closed, which valve is actuated by valve-rod I, which through lever l and rod 1 connects with the lever-arm .l", pivoted to the interlocking frame G and carrying the stop-segment l", which when the steamvalve H is closed occupies the position shown in Figs. 5 and 7, extending over the stops F and f of segments F and f, so as to prevent either take-off valve from closing. \Vhen the steam-valve H is opened, the segment I is shifted to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 8, permitting either take-ofl' valve to close, and while such take-off valve is closed the segment, as F, Fig. 8, prevents the steam-valve from closing.

The steam pipe H connects, through branches H and 71 and further branches ll H and if It", with the bottom and top of each generator, and each branch H l1. is provided with a distributing-cock H or It", having handle-levers IF lo, which are connected to the rods E a, moving with the take-oii' valves, the connection being such that when the takeoff valves are open their connected distributing-cocks direct the steam into the bottoms of the generator, while the closing of either take-off valve shifts the connected dist1'il.)uting-cock to direct the steam into the top of its connected generator.

H and H it and k are stop-cocks in the branches of the steam-pipes to be operated by hand.

J is an oil-pipe leading to any part of the plant where oil is required, and provided with a stop-cock J, which by valve-rod J,

rod J and .lever J connects to segment J pivoted on frame G and formed (see Figs. 5 and 6)with a notch J which registers with notch B of air-valve bar B when the airvalve and oil-valve are both closed, so that the opening of either of said valves prevents the opening of the other.

K is a pivot-pin secured on frame G at right angles'to the segment-pivots, and K is a lock-segment pivoted on said pin and having parts K and K which are adapted to enter the notches F" or f" of'segments F and f when they are in the positions they occupy when the take-off valves are open.

K is an upwardly-extending lever-arm of the segment K K, indicating the weight,

and K a pin or shoulder extending out from lever K, while K is a pin extending from the top of armK and engaged in the slotted arm L of an indicator L pivoted at L, as shown in Fig. 6.

M M are pivot-pins secured to the tops of segments F and f and having pivoted on them the push-bars M M, which are guided to move substantially in lines parallel with their length, as by guide-pins N N. These bars are arranged to impinge upon the projection K of arm K when the segment not engaged by lock K" is moved with the closing of its take-off valve and to push the arm K over beyond the perpendicular, thus releasing the lock-segment from the segmentsay F, with reference to Fig. 6and the weight K causing the further movement of segment K in an anticlockwise direction until its end K rests against the under side of segment f and when said segment returns to its open position passes up into its notch f, thus looking it against closing until after segment F has moved to closed position again and shifted the lock-segment back to original position. In this way the segments are alternately locked and a correct alternating action in the closing of the take-oif'valves insured, while the shifting of the indicator-finger L L always shows the operator which take-ofi" valve has last been closed.

To explain more fully the functions and mode of operation of my interlocking system,

.I will note, in the first place, that it insures.

that. during the blowthat is to say, the period when the air-valve is open-each generator will receive anequal portion of the airsupply. This is the case because, as I have already explained, it is only when both of the take-off valves C and O are open that their sectors F and f occupy the position (shown in Fig 5 of the drawings) with their notches F and f opposite to each other. It is consequently only when the take-off valves are both open that it is possible to shift the interlock-. ing bar B of the air-valve from the position it occupies when the valve is closed, and the shifting of this interlocking bar with the opening of the air-valve raises the bar-notches f when the steam-valve is closed.

B andB out of registry with the sector'- notches F raising the unnotched portion of the bar B into the notches F and f and thus locking the sectors F and f and their connected take-off valves in open position. My interlocking system also provides for the expulsion of residual air after each blow and of residual water-gas after each run in the following manner: The steam-controlling valve H is, as I have explained, connected with the interlocking segmental stop I in such a way that the said stop lies in front of the abutments F f of the take-off-valve segments F Consequently it is impossible to shift either takeoff. valve from the open position which both occupy during the blow until after the steamvalve H has been opened and the stop-segment 1* shifted to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 8. The opening of the steam-valve H causes the steam to pass through the branches H 73, and the distributing-valves H lzi being, in the open positions of the take-oil valves, set to connect the lower branches H b with the branches H 7&2 steam passes into the bottom of both generators and through the generators and take-off pipes, sweeping all air out of the apparatus. It is now possible to set the apparatus for a-series run by closing either one of the take-off valves. Thus, for

instance, in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the valve' C inthe take-off conduit O is closed, the shifting the valve-lever a through the rod e and lever 72, shifting the distributing valve if, so as to cause the steam to pass into the branch pipe if and into the top of the generator A .In this setting of the apparatus steam is admitted, as stated, to the top of generator A and to the bottom of generator A, and the water-gas passes off through the take-off pipe During the series run the shifting of the segment of the closed take-off valve (f in Fig. 4) locks the air-valve bar in closed position and also, as indicated in Fig. 8, looks the stop-segment a, of the steam-valve in open position, making it impossible either to admit air or to shut off steam through the interlocked valves during the series run and making it also necessary as the first step of passing from the series run to the parallel blow to open the take-0E valve O shifting its connected steam-distributing valve'so that, like the other steam-distributing valve, it directs steam to the bottom of the generator, so that the first step in stopping the run isto direct steam through both generators, sweeping out all water gas contained in them and their take-off pipes. It is then practicable to shut off the steam-supply by closing cock H" and to turn on the air for the parallel blow by opening the air-valve, and it will be noticed that in the open positions of the take-off valves it is practicable to open and close both the air and steam valves, as these valves are not interlocked except through their connections with the take-off-valve segments. This, for reasons which will be understood by those familiar with the art, is a feature of some practical value.

My apparatus insures that in regular running only one of the take-ofi valves can be closed at the same time and that the take-off valve which is closed shall be the one which was left open during the preceding run. Thus, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the weighted locking-segment K is engaged in the notch F of the sector F and locks that sector and its connected take-off valve in open position. If new the sector f and its take-off valve are shifted to closed position, the movement of the sector carries the push-bar M against the offset pin K of the weighted sector pushing it over, swinging the sector K down, so that it disengages the sector F, and pushing the weighted end of the sector K over beyond the perpendicular, whereupon the weight will cause the sector to move in an anticlockwise direction until its stop-nut K comes in contact with the under side of the sector f, and when the sector f returns to open position the sector K moves still farther upward into the notch f, locking the sector f in open position, in which position it will remain until the sector F and its connected take-off valve is shifted to closed position, and so on alternately locking the take-off valve last to be closed in open position. The connection of the indicating-finger L L with the weighted locking-sector K gives to the operator a visual indication as to which take-oif valve was last opened and also serves as a convenient means for enabling the operator to depart from the automatic system of alternating the closing of the valves in case he finds it desirable to do so, as the locking-sector can be shifted either by direct manipulation or by shifting the position of the indicator L L My interlocking system also provides against the admission of oil to any part of the apparatus during the blow, the sector J connected with the oil-admission valve, being locked in closed position when the interlocking bar B of the air-valve is shifted to open position, and the same interlocking device locking the air-valve in closed position whenever the oil-valve is open. Y

I have, as already stated, illustrated my device in what I believe to be its best and most useful form and construction; but it must be understood that 1 do not limit my claims to the specific construction of interlocking devices illustrated, nor is it essential to my invention that all of the described parts should be interlocked together as described.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A twin-generator gasapparatus in which each generator is provided with an independent take-off conduit in combination with independent valves controlling said conduits, an air-valve controlling the admission of air to the generators and an interlocking device having its interengaging parts actuated by the movements of said valves and arranged as described to lock the air-valve in closed position when either take-oii' valve is closed and to lock both take-ofl valves in open position when the air-valve is open.

2. A twin-generator gas apparatus in which each generator is provided with an independent take-oif conduit in combination with independent valves controlling said conduits, steam-conduits leading to the top and bottom of the separate generators, distrilniting-valves in said steam-conduits, and connecting mechanism between said take-01f valves and steamdistributing valves whereby the admission of steam to the top or bottom of either generator is controlled by the position of the take-oil valve.

3. Atwin-generator gas apparatusin which each generator is provided with an independent take-01f conduit in combination with takeoff valves controlling said conduits, an airadmission valve, an oil-conduit and a valve controlling the same and an interlocking device having its inter-engaging parts actuated by the movements of the air-valve and of the oil-valve and arranged as described to lock either of said valves closed when the other is opened.

t. Atwin-generator gas apparatus in which each generator is provided with an indepemlent take-off conduitin combination with takeoff valves controlling said conduits, a steamconduit connecting with both generators, a valve in said steam-conduit whereby the steamsupply is controlled and an interlocking device having its interengaging parts aetuatml by the movement of the take-oii valves and steam-valve and arranged as described to lock the take-off valves in open position while the steam-valve is closed and to lock the steamvalve in open position while either take-oll' valve is closed.

5. A twin-generator gas apparatus in which each generator is provided with an independent take-oil conduit, in combination with take off valves controlling said conduits locking mechanism arranged to alternately lock the separate take-off valves in open position and means actuated by the movements of the unlocked valve and its connections in a direction to close its conduit and acting to unlock the other tak'e-oif valve and readjust the locking mechanism to enable it to engage and lock the previously-unlocked valve on its return to open position.

6. A twin-generator gas apparatus in which each generator is provided with an independent take-off conduit, in combination with takeoff valves controlling said conduits, locking mechanism arranged to alternately lock the separate take-off valves in open position,1neans valve and its connection in a direction to close its conduit and acting to unlock the other take-off valve and readjust the locking mechanism to enable it to engage and lock the previously-unlocked valve on its return to open position, and an indicator actuated by the movements of the lock and adapted to show which valve was last closed.

7 A twin-generator gas apparatus in which each generator is'provided with an independent take-off conduit in combination with independent valves controlling said conduits, a main steam-conduit having branches leading to the top and bottom of each generator, a stop-valve in the main conduit and a distributing-valvein each branch conduit, connecting mechanism between the take-off valves and the steam-distributing valves of the branch conduits whereby the admission-of steam to the top or bottom of either generator is controlled by the position of the take-off valve and an interlocking device having its interengaging parts'actuated by the movements of the take-oil valves and of the main steamvalve and arranged as described to lock the take-off valves in open position when the steam-valve is closed and to' lock the steamvalve in open position when either take-01f valve is closed.

8. A twin-generator gas apparatus in which each generator is provided with an independent take-off conduit in combination with independent valves controlling said conduit, an air-valve controlling the admission of air to the generators, an oil-conduit and valve, and an interlocking device having its interengaging parts actuated by the movements of said valves and arranged as described to lock the air-valve in closed position when either takeoff Valve is closed and to lock both take-oil valves in open position when the air-valve is open and to lock thev oil-valve closed when the air-valve is open.

9. As an interlocking device for twin-generator gas apparatus, the pivoted sectors F, f, having notches F f and connected to the takeoff valves of the apparatus in combination with'the rod B connected to the airvalve and formed with notches B E.

10. As an interlocking device for twin-generator gas apparatus, the pivoted sectors F, f, connected to the take-off valves and formed with notches F f and abutments F f in combination with the rod B connected to the air-valve and having notches B, B, and the stop 1 connected to the steam valve and adapted to interlock with the stops F, as described.

11. In an interlocking device fortwin generators the combination of the pivoted sectors F, f, connected to the take-oil valves and having notches F, f, with the lock-sector K, pivoted on a horizontal axis at right angles to the pivots of the sectors F, f, and adapted to engage with the notches F5, or f", a counterweight connected to the sector K and adapted to move it to either of its extreme positions and means actuated by the movement of the sectors F, andy, for shifting the sector K, from one position to the other.

12. In an interlocking device for twin generators, the combination of the pivoted sectors F, f, connected to the take-off valves and having notches F, f*, with the lock-sector K, pivoted on a horizontal axis at right angles to the pivots of the sectors F, f, and adapted to engage with the notches F*, or f, a counterweight connected to the sector K, and adapted to move it to either of its extreme positions, means actuated by the movement of the sectors F, and f, for shifting the sector K, from one position to the other, and an indicator-finger L, L actuated by sector K.

FREDERIO THUMAN.

Witnesess:

RICHARD WESTAOOTT, H. D. JAMEsoN. 

